He shook his headat Carter, giving him a pitying look. “You’re going to regret being naughtywhen I get out my special toy.”
Toy?
Was he talkingabout the cage again?
Mind-blowingdidn’t even begin to describe that night. Would Grant get it out again, or didhe have something else in mind? The carnally wicked look in Grant’s eyes saidit would be good, but Carter couldn’t even begin to guess what he was thinking.
“Thank you forpunishing me, Sir. I want to be good for you.” Damn fantasies were making hiscock thicken. If he didn’t get it under control, when he stood up his skirt wasgoing to be awkwardly tented. This wasn’t the club, and he wasn’t quite readyfor that yet.
Mischievous lightdanced in Grant’s eyes, but the rest of his face didn’t give anything away.“I’m glad you’re being a good boy. But if you don’t get that cock under controlI’m going to have to take care of it right here, and I’m not sure you’d likewhat I had in mind.”
Carter’s emotions ping-pongedaround and he couldn’t decide what he wanted. The longing to find out exactlywhat was giving Grant that look was so strong, but part of him was nervous and thoughthe wasn’t ready yet. Taking the more prudent path, because yeah, they were inBrent’s front yard, Carter took some deep breaths and thought of every grossthing he’d ever seen on a CSI episode.
Having a bit of anobsession for that and gory hospital dramas, he had a wealth of images to pullfrom. Before long his body was under control, even if that wasn’t what he reallywanted. He leaned over, careful of the plate, and gave Grant a quick kiss.“Let’s go. Before I get myself in more trouble.”
Grant’s laughterwrapped around him like a warm hug as he climbed out of the car, and theyheaded around the side of the house. The barbecue was in full swing, but theyweren’t the last to arrive. Bryce and his men were conspicuously absent.
Carter tried to besubtle as he looked around the yard and back at the house. Grant didn’t seem tofeel any need to hide his curiosity. He just glanced at the yard, then calledover to Garrett, his booming voice echoing, “Bryce chicken out on bringing hisguys?”
The crowd ofpeople laughed, and Garrett and Brent both started berating Grant for having notact. Calen, on the other hand, completely agreed with Grant and immediatelystood up for him. Carter just hung back and watched as chaos ensued. They weresuch a strange family, it was like watching aliens sometimes.
“Does it always feellike we’re watching a circus or some kind of reality show to you?” Wyattstepped up beside Carter and grinned. “It’s not a bad thing. I love Garrett andhis family is wonderful, but it’s like a zoo over here sometimes.”
They both watchedas the arguing—if that’s what it could be called because no one seemed angry—startedto wind down. The general consensus seemed to be that Grant and Calen weregoing to leave Bryce and his guys alone when they finally showed up, but yes,he was probably being a shit and ditching them because he was nervous.
When they allfinally calmed down enough to see what Carter had brought, nerves started frayingagain. Grant was hovering over Carter, and while he would have loved to have thoughtit was because he was concerned about Carter, he knew it was more because Grantwasn’t ready to share.
It was likewatching toddlers war over the last cookie.
He finally pulledGrant aside. “You have more at home. Let me put this down. If they want some,that’s fine. We brought it to share—” Carter barely got the words out beforeGrant clamped a hand over his mouth.
“You’re neversupposed to say that.” Grant looked horrified, like Carter was giving away theintimate details of their sex life in the middle of Brent’s back yard. Aliens,they were aliens. Before he could decide if he was going to lick him or bitehim, Grant wisely removed his hand. Looking around like a bad James Bond, hedropped his voice. “I don’t know if they heard or not. We have to find a betterhiding spot when we get home.”
“They’re not goingto come steal your fudge.” It was like trying to reason with a three-year-old.Grant wouldn’t be swayed.
“You have no idea.One time we went over to Garrett’s house and raided his house of all the goodstuff. He’d gone to the French bakery on the other side of town and thought he couldhide it. He was at a late meeting, so we snuck over. When he came home, therewasn’t a cookie or pastry in the place.” Grant said it so reasonably, Carterhad to run the conversation back a few times in his head.
“You broke intohis house?” Carter’s words tumbled out in shock, but he managed to keep hisvoice down enough that no one noticed.
“No.” Grant lookedat him like he was a few crayons short of a full box. “We had a key.”
He wassurrounded by lunatics.
“They’d better notbreak into my house for chocolate.” Carter gave Grant a stern look. “If I comehome to ransacked cupboards, I’ll hang them all.”
“They don’t have akey.” Grant shook his head like Carter wasn’t thinking things through. “They’llinvite themselves over, or come by to borrow something. It will be subtle, butby the time you turn around, they’ll have left in a hurry and the fudge will begone.”
Grant sounded abit like one of the alien conspiracy theorists on TV. Firmly convinced he wasright—but paranoid and a little freaky to listen to. Carter shook his head andtried to talk some sense into his nut. “I won’t let them take the fudge. I’mnot even sure they know where I live.”
Grant seemed totake some consolation in that, but not for long, because he started ramblingabout Wyatt not being able to keep a secret. Carter wasn’t sure how long the insanitywould have continued, but Bryce’s arrival stopped the crazy train mid-station.
He was alone.
Hands in hispockets, Bryce tried to maintain a neutral expression as he walked around theside of the house, but he failed miserably. His eyes were shifting around theyard nervously. It was clear he was expecting an interrogation.
Everyone wasstumped. Even the normally levelheaded Brent was standing there shocked. They’dall been so happy for Bryce and so excited to meet Troy and Oliver that himshowing up without them stunned everyone. Luckily, Wyatt was the first torecover.
He walked over toBryce, hands on his hips, and shook his head. “You forgot the salad, didn’tyou?”
